Your Guide to Disney Parks & Experiences

Hello Reader,

How is your week going so far? Me? I am head-down, knee-deep, and all-in on my D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event prep! I can't believe it's just a (yikes!!!) few weeks away, but I'm planning some really fun things (and VERY cool giveaways - AND a Grand Prize!) for our WDW Radio booth on the show floor! Stay tuned for more details soon!

But can I tell you about something else that I've been thinking about the last couple of weeks? And no, it's NOT food...

When the news broke that the Carousel of Progress was closing, I watched the internet do what the internet does - pick a side and dig in. And somewhere in all that noise, I kept hearing the same three words, over and over, from people who love this attraction as much as I do: "it's a time capsule."

And I understand why. I feel the pull of that theater too. But the more I sat with it, the more I realized that word might be the very thing Walt never wanted it to be. If you listened to our discussion of the "History, Debate & What’s Next" for the Carousel on WDW Radio # 868, you know where I stand.

It has also has had me thinking about those words - Time Capsule.

And the idea for this week's podcast was born!

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🎙️ This Week's Episode

So this week, instead of just debating the idea of a time capsule... we actually build one.

50 years from now, someone is going to open a time capsule that we sealed. And everything they will ever know about Walt Disney World in 2026 is inside it. So today, we fill that box. One attraction. One resort. One song. One snack. One smell. One sound. One price. More than a dozen questions... and I promise you, they aren't as easy as they sound.

Because this is not a "greatest hits" list. It's Walt Disney World captured exactly as it exists in this moment, for someone who will only ever know it as history. There was a single rule we had to follow, and it made the whole thing far more interesting... and a lot more challenging. Kendall Foreman is back on the show to fill the box with me, and stay with me all the way to the end... because the very last thing that goes into that box isn't an object at all.

🎧 Listen to WDW Radio #874 → Apple Podcasts or Spotify​

And I want to hear what YOU think. So tell me. One item. Make it count. What goes in the box? Let me know by joining in the conversation in the Clubhouse or leave a voicemail at 407-900-9391... I might just share your answer on a future show!

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📅 What's Coming Up

• 🎃 The Haunts and Heroes Disneyland Experience - Oct. 27–29, 2026. There are still some spots available for our Oogie Boogie Bash VIP Experience, and Inner Sanctum Breakfast inside Avengers Campus! Learn more and get your tickets HERE​
• 🏰 WDW Radio LIVE at D23 - August 14-16. I am incredibly grateful and honored to be invited onto the show floor this year! If you're coming to D23, come find the WDW Radio booth (#3401) we'll have live recordings, some genuinely cool giveaways, our mystery packs, and a little something I've been working on to reveal… and much more. Stay tuned... more details soon!
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• 🎯 Momentum Weekend at Walt Disney World - October 15-18, 2026. My annual immersive workshop, held during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival (not by accident). Four days, one room, fifty people, a 250+ page workbook, and a leadoff keynote from former Walt Disney World Ambassador Michael Collier. We’re more than 60% sold out and the early bird discount ends soon. Details at LouMongello.com/Momentum.
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• 🚢 WDW Radio Group Cruise to Alaska - May 10-17, 2027. Seven nights aboard my favorite ship... and itinerary... the Disney Wonder, May 10-17, 2027, roundtrip from Vancouver. Glaciers, humpback whales, the gold-rush history of Skagway, the totem poles of Ketchikan - and this time, an optional post-cruise train trip with bi-level glass-dome coach for anyone who wants to keep the adventure going. All of it wrapped in the magic only the Disney Wonder delivers, experienced together, as a family. Joining our group costs you nothing extra, and the sooner you book, the lower your rate. Space is limited! 🏔️ Get your free, no-obligation quote from Mouse Fan Travel at WDWRadio.com/Alaska2027​

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💙 Let's Stay Connected

Let's talk about this week's podcast, YOUR Time Capsule idea, and anything you want to discuss on WDW Radio LIVE, Wednesday at 7:30pm ET on Facebook and YouTube​

I share even more posts and stories on my Instagram @LouMongello.

And if you want to be in the room with fellow Disney fans who feel like family, come join us in the WDW Radio Clubhouse on Facebook. It's one of my favorite corners of the internet, and there's a seat here for you.

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OK, time to get back to D23 prep... and maybe a secret project (or two)

Thanks, as always, for being part of the WDW Radio family. Remember to choose the good, be kind, and stay hungry.

I love and appreciate you! See ya real soon,

Lou

P.S. If WDW Radio has ever made your day a little better, your Disney trip a little more magical, or simply made you feel like part of something special - would you take 30 seconds and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It means more than you know, it helps new people find the show

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